Keep Track of Your Chimney Health

You may not be a chimney expert, but you probably care about your home more than anyone else. You do everything you can to keep up with your house, and your chimney system is most likely the largest working system in your home. Good news! You don’t have to be an expert to keep track of your chimney health any more than you have to be a licensed physician to maintain your physical health.

How to Keep Your Chimney Healthy

Use the chimney properly.
If you don’t use your chimney system properly, it won’t work well. Efficiency will drop, fire risk will go up, and you’ll waste time, money, and resources. To use your system properly, you need to know what type of system you have. You should burn the correct fuel in your fireplace, stove, or insert. You should know how to properly light a fire, whether with a switch or building a fire. Many homeowners also aren’t sure how to use the vents and damper correctly to help start and keep a fire going. Get to know your system and if you’re not sure how to operate it, ask a professional.

Look for signs of trouble.
Many homeowners don’t know what to look for and don’t notice a problem until damage has occurred. There are signs that the chimney isn’t working correctly long before the damage is obvious.
– Difficult to light, keep burning or burn hot
– Smoky fireplace
– Fireplace odors
– Dripping, staining, or mildew on interior or exterior of masonry
– Falling pieces of masonry or tile
This list isn’t comprehensive, and homeowners should ask an expert if they have any concerns about chimney functions or possible hazards.

Schedule service appointments.
The Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommend regular chimney sweeps and annual chimney inspections for the safest and most efficient chimney system. In fact, having your chimney swept throughout the year means a certified chimney sweep has ample opportunity to assess and identify hazards that put your family at risk. Routine maintenance prevents water damage, accidental fires, and lengthens the life of your chimney system. If you haven’t had a chimney sweep this season, schedule with Chesapeake today. If you haven’t had an inspection in the last calendar year, since you’ve bought your house, or since you’ve made a change to your system, schedule one with Chesapeake Chimney today.